Saturday Thread for News and Politics: Border Patrol [Y-not]

Seems as though the thing weighing most heavily on everyone's mind right now is Obama's manufactured border crisis.

Governors are meeting this weekend in Tennessee. Per Politico, the border crisis is a major topic of discussion:

As they gathered here for a meeting of the National Governors Association, the state leaders seethed at what they said was a lack of support and information from the federal government.

That’s left them groping for solutions to an issue they say combines humanitarian concern for vulnerable children, fears of lax border security and intense election-year politics.

"I found out in the last 48 hours that approximately 200 illegal individuals have been transported to Nebraska [by the federal government]," said Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman, a Republican, in an interview. "The federal government is complicit in a secret operation to transfer illegal individuals to my state and they won’t tell us who they are."

A lot of eyes are on Texas and Governor Perry, but I was curious about what was happening at some of the other key states. Here's a brief roundup:

New Mexico

Governor Martinez has not gotten much press this week. She has spoken out a bit and talked with federal agencies, but she has not visited the detention centers in her state yet (or hadn't as of mid-week):

Governor blames Obama, Congress for border crisis

Gov. Susana Martinez says President Barack Obama and Congress are to blame for the wave of Central American immigrants – many of them unaccompanied children – that has prompted the opening of temporary housing facilities, including one in southeastern New Mexico.

Martinez said the crisis is, at least in part, the byproduct of mixed signals on the federal level.

"Immigrants flood across the border – or parents drop their children there – expecting the federal government to just throw up its hands and let them in. That's not an immigration policy – that's a failure of leadership," the governor said. "We will continue to push the federal government for regular communication and proper planning relating to the operation of this makeshift detention facility in southeast New Mexico."

She reportedly attended a fundraiser in Wyoming this week. I believe she is up for re-election this year.

Arizona

Like Perry, Governor Brewer is winding down her term in office. (In her case, because of Arizona term limits.) Here's what she said this week:

Arizona Gov. Brewer blasts 'imperial' Obama for failing to secure border:

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer tore into President Obama on Twitter, calling him an "imperial POTUS" for failing to secure the border and allowing illegal immigrants to "overrun" the country.

"AZ will continue to fight for the rule of law. Lawless decrees by President shows animus to Congress & Constitution," the Republican governor tweeted Monday.

"@BarackObama creates DACA by fiat & illegal aliens overrun USA. AZ will continue to fight this imperial POTUS & demand secure borders," she said.

Her comments came after a federal appeals court ruled that Arizona cannot deny driver's licenses to immigrants allowed to stay in the U.S. under the Obama administration's deferred action policy, known as DACA.

California

In my first draft, I didn't even bother with an entry for California, but I suppose in the interest of completeness I should post something. Here are the words of wisdom from their gawdawful Governor Brown:

Breaking his public silence on the recent surge in illegal immigration, Gov. Jerry Brown called on Republicans in Congress on Friday to work with President Obama on solving the "human tragedy" rather than trying to gain political advantage.

RIGHT. The Republicans are the ones playing politics.

Meanwhile, earlier this week in Murrieta:

The mayor of Murrieta, California is defending protests against the influx of undocumented immigrants being dropped off in his town. Last week, residents blocked buses carrying men, women and children who crossed the border illegally.

This morning on America's Newsroom, Bill Hemmer spoke to Mayor Alan Long. He said it's unclear how many people are being sent to the town, but he anticipates that more people will be arriving there.

Mayor Long commended Border Control officials in the area for being helpful and passing along information as it comes in. On the national level, he said the Department of Homeland Security is keeping him "in the dark," and he hasn't heard from California Governor Jerry Brown (D).

Nevada

I may have missed something, but so far Sandoval seems pretty quiet. Here's a report on the political reaction in Nevada to Obama's request for more money (no quote from the Governor):

President Barack Obama's request for Congress to spend almost $4 billion to address the immigration crisis on the southern border drew a mixed reaction Tuesday from Nevada Democrats, while Republicans greeted it warily.

Sen. Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, said approving the new spending "is something we have to do."

"The main thing we have to do is recognize we have an emergency," Reid said, adding he was hopeful the $3.7 billion legislation could pass before Congress takes a monthlong break in August.

For that reason Reid said he would not favor adding other items to the bill or holding it up with demands that its cost be offset by cuts elsewhere in the budget — which some Republicans already were hinting Tuesday.

Democratic Rep. Dina Titus said she was going to vote for the president's request but added Congress needs to pass comprehensive immigration reform as well.

Utah

Governor Herbert announced he'll be seeking another term. He's been pretty quiet about the border crisis, but perhaps he'll have to speak up now that it looks like Utah will be getting the gift of scabies, too:

Some kids in border crisis may come to Utah

A flood of undocumented children crossing into the U.S. from Mexico may eventually reach Utah---not as a wave perhaps, but as a trickle of kids in need of homes.

"Over the years, we have probably seen more than a hundred children come through Catholic Community Services of Utah (CCS), through that border crossing," said Danielle Stamos, CCS spokesperson. "Currently, right now we have 10-to-15."

But Stamos said she expects more will arrive.

"This is a crisis situation right now," she said. "These are children who are leaving incredibly difficult situations. A lot of them are abandoned by their families. A lot of them are picked up by traffickers. These are children who just want to go to school and have a safe and happy family life."

Utah's brand of Republicanism is "compassionate conservatism" and with Herbert running for re-election, I don't expect much by way of leadership from him. He's a good governor in many respects, but this is a one-party state, so real reform is very difficult to achieve.

I denounce myself.

**UPDATE courtesy of Captain Whitebread**

Oklahoma

From a June press release from the OK Governor's Office:

Governor Mary Fallin today toured a temporary shelter at Fort Sill housing almost 600 unaccompanied minors who crossed the United States’ southern border illegally. The tour was lead by officials with the U.S. Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families. Federal officials barred access to the tour for the media and requested no pictures or video be taken.

Following the tour, Fallin criticized President Obama for lax immigration policies that have lead to an illegal immigration crisis.

“This facility at Fort Sill is a testament to President Obama’s failed immigration policies and his lack of seriousness when it comes to border security,” Fallin said. “Over 50,000 unaccompanied minors illegally made their way into the U.S. in the last year. Because of the president’s insistence on amnesty over border security, that number is expected to double. The president’s failed policies are creating a crisis at our borders that is now spilling over to Oklahoma and Fort Sill.”

The governor also said that housing illegal immigrants at Fort Sill was an inappropriate use of a military facility.

**Update part 2: Here's a link to the interactive map showing where the Feds are putting the illegals. I don't know much about IJReview's reliability. Does anyone have an opinion about it?

Use this thread to talk politics and share your news from your home states about Obama's border crisis.

Oh, and feel free to follow me on Twitter @moxiemom.

posted by Open Blogger at 01:11 PM

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